M1: Personal Development

• The word ‘personality’ derives from the Latin word ‘personae’ which means “mask”.The study of personality can be understood as the study of “masks” that people wear.These are the personas that people project and display, but also include the inner partsof psychological experience which we collectively call our 'self'
• Personality theorists: Sigmund Freud, Carl Rogers, Gordon Allport
• Sigmund Freud:“It is largely unconscious, hidden and unknown”.“According to Freud's theory, certain aspects of yourpersonality are more primal and might pressure you toact upon your most basic urges. Other parts of yourpersonality work to counteract these urges and striveto make you conform to the demands of reality”
• Carl Rogers“It is an organized, consistent pattern of perception ofthe “I” or “me” that lies on the heart of an individualexperience.Carl Rogers believed that for a person to achieve self-actualization they must be in a state of congruence.This means that self-actualization occurs when aperson's “ideal self” (i.e., who they would like to be) iscongruent with their actual behavior (self-image)
• Gordon AllportUsing eclecticism, Allport is perhaps best known for histrait theory of personality. He began developing thistheory by going through a dictionary and noting everyterm he found that described a personality trait.“It is something within an individual that leads tocharacteristic behavior and thought.”
• Ideal self is the self that you aspire to be. It is the one that you hope will possess characteristics similar to that of a mentor or some other worldly figure.
• Actual self is the one that you actually see. It is the self that has characteristics that you were nurtured or, in some cases, born to have.
• Self-concept refers to your awareness of yourself. It is the construct thatnegotiates these two selves. In other words, it connotes first the identification of the ideal self as separate from others, and second, it encompasses all the behaviors evaluated in the actual self that you engage in to reach the ideal self.
• Alignment. If the way that I am (the actual self) is aligned with the way that I want to be (the ideal self), then I will feel a sense of mental well-being or peace of mind
• Incongruence, or lack of alignment, will result in mental distress or anxiety.
• Carl Rogers (1959) believed that humans have one basic motive, which is the tendency to self-actualize, to fulfill one's potential and achieve the highest level of 'human-beingness' we can.
• Carl Rogers believed that for a person to achieve self-actualization, they must be in a state of congruence.
• Self-actualization occurs when a person’s “ideal self” (i.e., who they would like to be) is congruent with their actual behavior (Actual-self).
• Self-actualized people accept themselves and others as they are, lack inhibition, and are able to enjoy themselves and their lives free of guilt.
• Not only do self-actualized people fully accept themselves, but they also embrace other people for who they are.
• Knowing oneself to others➢ It is fun to begin to know more about who we are. It is even more exciting to see ourselves through the eyes of other people who know us.➢ The most basic way to know oneself is through self- inquiry➢ The method of inquiry considers 2 main players (1) Oneself (2) Other people➢ Johari’s window was made for a model of interpersonal awareness and self-development. It can help be more aware of his/her own strength.
• Johari’s Window Model explanation-Open/self-area or arena is where the information about the person includes attitudes, behavior, emotions, feelings, skills, and views, which are known by the person as well as by others.
• Blind self or blind spot is the information about yourself that others know in a group, but you are unaware of it.
• Hidden area or façade is the information that is known to you but will be kept unknown from others.
• Unknown area is the information which is unaware to yourself as well as others, including information, feelings, capabilities, talents etc.
• This unknown area can be due to traumatic past experiences or events which can be unknown for a lifetime.